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    Home » Chicken » Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks

    Published: Jun 21, 2021 by Kemi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Pan fried chicken drumsticks recipe that is quick and cooks in 30 minutes. These stove top chicken legs are flavorful, easy to make, the inside moist and tender, and the skin crispy. Let me show you step by step how to cook chicken drumsticks on the stove.

    pan fried chicken legs served on a plate.

    Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

    This is the best pan fried chicken drumsticks recipe because it's simple, quick and you get delicious, well cooked chicken.

    It comes out with crispy skin and the inside is tender, moist and perfectly cooked.

    Pan fried chicken legs are healthier than deep fried because it uses way less oil to cook.

    Seasoned with few pantry ingredients, these stove top drumsticks are juicy and flavorful.

    This recipe is paleo friendly, low carb and keto.

    It's budget friendly, makes use of clean ingredients, no flour added, no panko or breading.

    To use any other part of chicken, check my post on stove top chicken thighs or stove top chicken breast.

    the cooked dish displayed.

    Ingredients

    Chicken Drumsticks - I've used bone in skin on chicken drumsticks for this post. You can take off the skin if you like and that also reduces the calories. You can also use chicken leg quarters.

    Paprika - I use smoked paprika. You can use this or mix with sweet paprika.

    Garlic granules

    Onion granules

    Parsley

    Black pepper - You can use any other type of ground dried pepper.

    Salt

    Oil - Vegetable, sunflower, olive or coconut oil are ones i've used with good result.

    Some other Seasonings you can use are:

    Peri peri seasoning

    Jerk seasoning

    Taco seasoning

    How To Pan Fry Chicken Legs (Stove top Chicken Drumsticks)

    Add the paprika, onion granules, garlic granules, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Mix well till they are well combined.

    Using a paper towel, pat the drumsticks dry. 

    Add the chicken drumsticks into a bowl then and in the seasoning mix. Mix the seasoning with drumsticks till the drumsticks are evenly coated. 

    seasoned chicken legs in a bowl.

    Place a skillet or frying pan over medium heat then add the oil into the pan. 

    Arrange the drumsticks in the pan with the meaty skin side down. 

    the chicken arranged in the skillet.

    Pan fry for 8 minutes then flip to the other side and pan fry for another 8 minutes. 

    pan fried in a skillet.

    Add 2 cups of water into the pan, then cook on low heat till the water dries up or till cooked (this takes about 12- 15 minutes), or leave some pan juice to serve with the chicken.

    Water added into the skillet.

    When the chicken legs are cooked, take the skillet off the stove.

    You will know the chicken is cooked when there's no pinkiness in the middle and the juice runs clear. You can also check with a thermometer. The internal temperature should be at least 75C/165F for it to be safe to eat.

    Serve and enjoy. 

    cooked chicken served in a plate  with skillet in background.

    How Long to Pan Fry Chicken Legs

    How long to cook chicken legs on the stove depends on factors such as the size of the chicken. 

    It takes about 30 minutes to pan fry chicken drumsticks that are medium sized. Cooking it for 30 minutes or longer ensures that not only will the outside be cooked, but inside well cooked and juice runs clear.

    For chicken leg quarters, it takes the same time of 30 minutes of cooking over medium heat.

    What To serve with

    Below are some sides we like to serve with:

    Sauteed vegetables, and spicy rice.

    Boiled carrots and boiled potatoes.

    Air fryer potatoes, and boiled broccoli. 

    Fried spaghetti, pasta

    Dipping sauces like peri peri sauce, bbq sauce, buffalo sauce, garlic parmesan, and others.

    pan fried chicken legs served on a plate.

    Storage Information 

    You can freeze cooked chicken drumsticks or store in the fridge. If you will be consuming it within few days you can store it in the fridge, otherwise, store in the freezer for a longer duration. 

    To store in the fridge - Put in a plastic bag or an airtight container, then store in the fridge where it will last for up to 5 days. 

    To Store in the freezer: Put in a freezer-safe airtight container or Ziploc bag, label with name and dates then store in the freezer where it'll keep well for up to 6 months.

    It can be reheated on the stovetop, microwave, oven or air fryer.

    To reheat on the stove: Arrange the drumsticks in a skillet or frying pan, add a cup of water and put on the stove over medium heat. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes or till heated through and water dried up.

    To reheat in the microwave: Place the drumsticks on a microwave safe plate, put in the microwave, cover and microwave on high heat settings for 2 minutes or till warmed through.

    Tips for Making Pan fried Chicken Drumsticks 

    • Try and use similar-sized drumsticks for the same cooking time.
    • You can add other spices to season or use homemade seasoning like chicken seasoning, peri peri seasoning, lemon pepper, or any of your choice. Using a different seasoning once in a while will give you a variety of tastes.
    • Mix the seasoning with the chicken legs well so they are evenly coated. 
    • Although it's not necessary to marinate for this recipe, It's best to season the chicken and put it in the fridge for few hours so that the flavors can be well infused. You can season for 60 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, or in the morning ready for dinner time. 
    • Don't wait for the oil to be overheated before adding the chicken legs. That way the chicken skin won't get burnt. 
    • You can leave some pan juice to serve on the chicken or add cornflour to thicken to make gravy.
    • Don't rush the cooking process as it's important the inside is cooked to a temperature of 165F/75C to avoid food poisoning.

    Should i cover pan while frying chicken? 

    Covering the pan after adding water trap steam in the pot which helps to cook the inside of the chicken thoroughly and faster.

    3 pieces of chicken drumsticks on a plate.

    More Chicken Drumsticks Recipes

    Boiled chicken legs

    Air fryer chicken drumsticks 

    Instant pot chicken drumsticks 

    Baked chicken legs

    I hope you like this recipe as much as we do. If you find this post helpful, please rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you.

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    pan fried in a skillet.
    Print Recipe
    4.85 from 20 votes

    Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks

    Pan fried chicken drumsticks recipe that is quick and cooks in 30 minutes. These stove top chicken legs are flavorful, easy to make, the inside moist and tender, and the skin crispy. Let me show you step by step how to cook chicken legs on the stove.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, British
    Keyword: how to cook chicken legs on stove, pan fried chicken drumsticks, pan fried chicken drumsticks recipe, pan fried chicken legs, stove top chicken drumsticks
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 159kcal
    Author: Kemi

    Equipment

    • Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 8 pieces Chicken drumsticks
    • 1 tablespoon Paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon Onion granules
    • ¼ teaspoon Garlic granules
    • Salt
    • 1.5 tablespoon Oil Olive , vegetable, sunflower oil

    Instructions

    • Add the paprika, onion granules, garlic granules, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Mix well till they are well combined. 
    • Using a paper towel, pat the drumsticks dry. 
      Add the chicken drumsticks into a bowl then and in the seasoning mix. Mix the seasoning with drumsticks till the drumsticks are evenly coated. 
    • Place a skillet or frying pan over medium heat then add the oil into the pan. Arrange the drumsticks in the pan with the meaty skin side down. 
    • Pan fry for 8 minutes then flip to the other side and pan fry for another 8 minutes. 
    • Add 2 cups of water into the pan, then cook on low heat till the water dries up or till cooked (this takes about 12- 15 minutes), or leave some pan juice to serve with the chicken.
    • When the chicken legs are cooked, take the skillet off the stove.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    Notes

    Tips for making pan fried chicken legs
    • You will know the chicken is cooked when there's no pinkiness in the middle and the juice runs clear. You can also check with a thermometer. The internal temperature should be at least 75C/165F for it to be safe to eat.
    • Try and use similar-sized drumsticks for the same cooking time. 
    • You can add other spices to season or use homemade seasoning like chicken seasoning, peri peri seasoning, lemon pepper, or any of your choice. Using a different seasoning once in a while will give you a variety of tastes.
    • Mix the seasoning with the chicken legs well so they are evenly coated. 
    • Although it's not necessary to marinate for this recipe, It's best to season the chicken and put it in the fridge for few hours so that the flavors can be well infused. You can season for 60 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, or in the morning ready for dinner time. 
    • Don't wait for the oil to be overheated before adding the chicken legs. That way the drumsticks won't get burnt skin. 
    • You can leave some pan juice to serve on the chicken or add cornflour to thicken to make gravy.
    • Don't rush the cooking process as it's important the inside is cooked to a temperature of 165F to avoid food poisoning.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 469IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

    Related posts:

    Honey Soy Chicken Wings
    Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    Air Fryer Chicken Legs
    Instant Pot Salmon
    « Peri Peri Seasoning Recipe
    Fried Potatoes Recipe (How To Fry Potatoes) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anna says

      July 01, 2021 at 4:26 am

      I am going to try this tomorrow , looks Amazing , fast and easy. Question when in pan for 8 min is that medium or high heat? Also after the water is added and it cooks for additional 15 min is that covered? Flip chicken?

      Thank you

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        July 01, 2021 at 10:50 pm

        Hi Anna, It's medium heat. I do uncover and covered. When covered, steam is trapped in and inside of the chicken moister. Yes, flip the chicken legs to brown the other side.

        Reply
    2. Olivia says

      August 10, 2021 at 11:42 pm

      5 stars
      Great and easy to implement! I don’t have an oven right now so this saved me - my family loved it!

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        August 24, 2021 at 12:40 am

        Hi Olivia, Thanks so much for the feedback. It's good to know your family loved it.

        Reply
    3. Jessica says

      November 25, 2021 at 2:26 am

      This is amazing, and so quick!
      Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        November 25, 2021 at 4:51 am

        Thank you for this review.

        Reply
    4. wRen Bradley says

      December 08, 2021 at 4:29 pm

      5 stars
      I made these last night for my granddaughters who are 6 and 7. I'm a vegetarian so I followed the recipe exactly praying it would work! And guess what? It was amazing! My grandbabies raved about the drumsticks and ate two each! They loved the grave so much that I had to steal a taste. It tasted Supreme. I used smoked paprika and olive oil. Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        December 12, 2021 at 3:49 pm

        I'm glad to read this glowing review. Thanks so much for the feedback.

        Reply
    5. Jenny Hart says

      January 12, 2022 at 3:54 am

      Amazing! I used this recipe with some added spice and whole garlic. Fantastic!

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
    6. Jennifer says

      January 17, 2022 at 4:58 am

      While tasted good, the cook time was wat off for me. Rather than the 12 to 15 min with 2 C of water, it tool 35 to reach the 165 temp and clear juices. Hmmmm

      Reply
    7. CARLOS says

      January 20, 2022 at 5:22 pm

      5 stars
      THANKS SOO MUCH. NEVER MADE SUCH TASTY AND EASY CHICKEN IN A WHILE

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        January 24, 2022 at 6:27 pm

        Thanks for the feedback Carlos.

        Reply
    8. Inge Adendorff says

      April 05, 2022 at 8:37 am

      Thank you !! Kimi. I have never made chicken drumsticks in my life. But your easy explanation got me frying like a pro !!

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        April 05, 2022 at 1:26 pm

        I'm glad to read this. Welldone Inge 🙂

        Reply
    9. Christine says

      April 26, 2022 at 10:14 pm

      5 stars
      GIRL!! you saved dinner for us tonight. Thank you so so much. All three kids ate it up. I owe you!!

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        April 28, 2022 at 12:40 am

        This comment made my day! Thanks for the feedback:)

        Reply
    10. John says

      July 20, 2022 at 10:26 pm

      4 stars
      I think my stove was too high, even at medium. I used a cast-iron skillet and the chicken was burnt after 8 minutes on one side. I have a commercial grade thermador. Any tips for how to adjust?

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        July 26, 2022 at 1:11 am

        Try low heat and 5 minutes on each side to test if that works for you.

        Reply
    11. Ivy says

      September 19, 2022 at 3:45 pm

      Can I make chicken breasts like this?

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        September 20, 2022 at 2:18 am

        Here's the link to pan fried chicken breasts

        Reply
    12. Kelly says

      September 27, 2022 at 12:28 am

      5 stars
      This was great! Thank you for the recipe. It turned out very well and everyone definitely enjoyed it. I will be using this as my go to from now on when I don't want to use the oven.

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        September 27, 2022 at 2:45 am

        I appreciate the feedback. Thank you!

        Reply
    13. Wyman says

      October 26, 2022 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was easy to make, and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely use this again.

      Reply
      • Kemi says

        November 01, 2022 at 2:41 am

        This is good to know. Thanks for your feedback.

        Reply
    14. Mike W says

      December 27, 2022 at 8:57 pm

      3 stars
      Hi Kemi, either 2 cups of water is too much or–despite my efforts to follow this recipe to the letter—I did something wrong. The legs were browned well enough and were tasty but even after 20 minutes on medium (not low as the recipe states), the water had not evaporated. I ended up having to remove the wet drumsticks from the pan and put them in a hot oven for 10-15 minutes to get them anywhere near crispy. The only thing I can think of is that I live near sea level so perhaps 1 cup would have worked, but 2 is definitely too much. Thank you nevertheless for your recipes. I genuinely appreciate people who take the time to share their knowledge and expertise with the world!

      Reply

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